Environmental cognition is the study of how humans of all ages understand and interact with the natural environment. This includes how they perceive their environment, how they interact with it, and how they interpret and use environmental information. It can also be defined as the mental processes and behavior associated with perceiving, interacting with, and learning from the environment.
Studies of environmental cognition have become increasingly important as people become more aware of the impacts of their behavior on the environment. Through an understanding of how people interact with their environment, researchers can develop strategies to improve environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Environmental cognition can be studied from various angles. Some studies have looked at the cognitive processes associated with understanding and responding to environmental changes. This includes how people perceive environmental hazards, how they form environmental beliefs and attitudes, and how they make decisions that affect the environment. Other studies have focused on how people interact with their environment, such as how they form relationships with the natural world or how they interact with technology.
Additionally, environmental cognition research has shown that people’s interaction with the environment is shaped by their cultural values and practices. This means that how people perceive, think about, and interact with the environment can be influenced by their cultural background. By understanding this, researchers can develop approaches to environmental education and management that are tailored to specific cultural contexts.
In conclusion, environmental cognition is a field of study that is essential for understanding how humans interact with their environment and for developing strategies to promote sustainable environmental stewardship.
References
Friedrich, J., & Markham, R. (2019). Environmental cognition: an introduction. In G. B. Gee, & R. W. Clugston (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of environmental psychology (pp. 99–114). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239–260.
Sorensen, A. (2018). Culture and environmental cognition. In A. Sorensen (Ed.), Environmental cognition (pp. 49–78). New York, NY: Routledge.